Company for my little one

[nichola2781]

Hi guys,

The lady I bought my hermann off last weekend has still got her sister available (was incubated to be female) and was wondering if this would be a good idea to get her for company for squirt (thats after Iv checked all is ok at the vets from the previous post)

Do you think this is a good idea?

[donstapley]

Originally Posted by nichola2781

Hi guys,

The lady I bought my hermann off last weekend has still got her sister available (was incubated to be female) and was wondering if this would be a good idea to get her for company for squirt (thats after Iv checked all is ok at the vets from the previous post)

Do you think this is a good idea?

its entirely up to you....but i would from personal experience stick with the one. they do not need company and are quite capable of living a happy life solitary.
the thing you have to consider is do you have the room to seperate if she turns out not to be female (this has happened to me!) and you do not wish to breed, and also are you prepared for double the vet bills....especially if one gets ill and passes something to the other....ive had bills range into the £300's just for one tort!

[annsimpson1]

if you do want another then by getting the sibling you will advoid the quarantine period, but like its been said as they get older you may have to separate them.

[red foot marg]

Although its true you can keep a tortoise on its own, i believe its better to keep them with there own kind, in the wild they live solitory lives but cross paths with others all the time. I believe thefore keeping them with there own they can interact with each other and live happier lives.I keep over 30 hermanns and never have any trouble.

[nichola2781]

thanks, yes I dont mind paying for the two or having seperate enclosures when they are older if they have problems together, but if they'v been together since they hatched (thy have been apart a week) will they be happy together ?

[red foot marg]

Originally Posted by nichola2781

thanks, yes I dont mind paying for the two or having seperate enclosures when they are older if they have problems together, but if they'v been together since they hatched (thy have been apart a week) will they be happy together ?

All i can say is if there two males they will be fine, if there male and female then you would either have to get another female later on or keep them on there. own, simply because the male would not leave the single female alone, i keep 5 adult males together and yes they do sometimes fight but this is only to sort out there pecking order.

[annsimpson1]

they'll be fine as babies. I have two hatchlings (ones I hatched) and they sleep together and really interact its very sweet sometimes to watch them, I know in the wild they are solitary animals but they do seem to like company if they have it, my two herman boys are now 4yrs and they are still together they have a big outside space and can get away from each other if they want but they still sleep and eat together quite happily.